India

Unions and political parties support Bharat Bandh called by farmers

After the inconclusive meeting between the farmers’ leaders and government officials on Saturday, both parties have agreed to meet on December 9 for a sixth-round of meetings.

Credit : NDTV

After the inconclusive meeting between the farmers’ leaders and government officials on Saturday, both parties have agreed to meet on December 9 for a sixth-round of meetings. Meanwhile, several groups and unions have come forward in support of the farmers to observe Bharat Bandh on December 8th.

According to the Indian Express, the Congress has expressed its “wholehearted” support to the Bharat Bandh and has also announced that it will hold protests that day at all district and state headquarters in solidarity with the demands of the farmers. Additionally, Kamal Hasan’s political party Makkal Needhi Maiam has decided to join the protests by announcing that a 10-member team will reach Delhi soon to join the farmers who have been residing on the borders around the national capital since protests began 11 days ago. While AAP has extended support to the Bharat Bandh called by the farmers, TMC has organised a three-day protest starting from December 8th at the Gandhi statue in Kolkata. The Karnataka farmers’ body will be participating in the Bharat Bandh too.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar too has asked the Centre to take the farmers’ protests seriously and end the deadlock. “I hope wisdom dawns on the government and it takes cognisance to resolve the issue. If this stalemate continues, the protest will not be limited to Delhi, but people from nook and corner of the country will stand by the protesting farmers,” he said.

After actor Diljit Dosanjh visited the farmers yesterday at Singhu border, boxer Vijender Singh too reached the protest site in Delhi to show solidarity to the farmers. If the government doesn't withdraw the black laws, I'll return my Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award - the highest sporting honour of the nation," ANI quoted Vijender Singh saying.

 

 

Speaking about the Bharat Bandh, farmer leader Baldev Singh said, “I appeal to all to participate in 'Bharat Bandh' on 8th December. 250 farmers from Gujarat will be coming to Delhi. There is a need to strengthen this farmers' movement.”

Several trade unions, transport unions, farmer bodies and communities across the nation have shown their solemn support to the farmers. Protests against farm laws were organised today at Nagpur and in Andhra Pradesh. Support was garnered across the national borders too as protests and rallies were organised at Brampton, Alberta, British Columbia and LaSalle in Canada, Melbourne in Australia, Johor Bahru in Malaysia, Auckland in New Zealand, London in the UK and New York, Washington and Ohio in the USA.

Protests against the three farm reform laws have been ongoing since September, amidst which the Central Government had also stopped railways going to Punjab. Demonstrations began a few days ago when thousands of farmers from northern states of Punjab and Haryana set out towards New Delhi to protest against these bills. The government tried to suppress the protests with force, as they employed water cannons and teargas shells, erected barricades and barbed wire fences, dug trenches on highways, and arrested hundreds of activists. Braving it all,  tens of thousands of farmers have amassed on the Delhi border and have laid siege to the capital.

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